Why do some atheists care that there are theists?

David Sklansky · #1 10-10-2005, 04:10 PM

Hopefully most of you already know my answer. To repeat:

Because of the paradox captured best by the Prisoner's Dilemma, most people of the world are better off if they are religious in the style of Jews, Christians, Buddhists and most Muslims. The good religion does, usually outweighs the harm.

The only real problem with religion is that it is almost certainly incorrect. And, to most extremely smart people, obviously so.

Now suppose you are a ten year old child who was precocious enough to realize that the precepts of specific religions are clearly not something that make sense. If there was not a body of writng by world class minds that expressed the same opinion, the deleteriouis effect on that kid could be enough to reduce his chances that he will contribute something meaningful to society.

In other words while there is more good than harm in allowing the majority of the world to believe in these myths of religion, it is important for the five percent of the population that we count on to make progress, to be shown that their doubting thoughts are indeed scientifically, logically and statistically valid (given the knowledge of the last 50 years). Hopefully that includes a lot of two plus twoers.

Jeff V · #2 10-10-2005, 04:27 PM

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The only real problem with religion is that it is almost certainly incorrect. And, to most extremely smart people, obviously so.

[/ QUOTE ]

Your good at leaving yopurself the tiniest amounts of outs David. So does "most" extremely smart people mean 50.000001% here? If not how much?

David Sklansky · #3 10-10-2005, 04:42 PM

Over 90%. Of the three hundred or so that I have met in my life it is 100% to the best of my knowledge. But I will admit that it is not a fully random sample.

IronUnkind · #4 10-10-2005, 05:10 PM

I suspect that you would automatically demote someone to a lower intellectual status based upon his espousal of religious belief. I know you are capable of such errors, based upon your belief that Leibniz's dice error somehow compromises his obvious genius. Is religion the reason you left Ramanujan off of your ten best list?

David Sklansky · #5 10-10-2005, 06:31 PM

"I suspect that you would automatically demote someone to a lower intellectual status based upon his espousal of religious belief. I know you are capable of such errors, based upon your belief that Leibniz's dice error somehow compromises his obvious genius. Is religion the reason you left Ramanujan off of your ten best list?"

Both guys easily make it into my top 5% list. And I have little doubt that Ramanujan would would never buy into Judeo Christian myths, especially with a little training in physics.

David Sklansky · #6 10-10-2005, 06:35 PM

"I know you are capable of such errors, based upon your belief that Leibniz's dice error somehow compromises his obvious genius."

I was picking the ten smartest ever out of a hundred candidates with little difference to choose from. That error is glaring enough to drop him off the list. Do you think there is any chance Gauss could have thought something similar?

IronUnkind · #7 10-10-2005, 08:31 PM

I doubt it, but I also would have doubted that Leibniz could have made the error had it not been so apparent that he, in fact, did make it.

sexdrugsmoney · #8 10-10-2005, 05:09 PM

<blockquote>En respuesta a:<hr />

In other words while there is more good than harm in allowing the majority of the world to believe in these myths of religion, it is important for the five percent of the population that we count on to make progress, to be shown that their doubting thoughts are indeed scientifically, logically and statistically valid (given the knowledge of the last 50 years). Hopefully that includes a lot of two plus twoers.

[/ QUOTE ]

Don't you believe humanity's progress is being somewhat 'stunted' by allowing only 5% of the smart to "see the truth" while the rest of the "plebs" - who have the power to vote on important things like government policies (some regarding scientific advances) are "hoodwinked" by supposed ancient "myths"?

David Sklansky · #9 10-10-2005, 06:27 PM

"Don't you believe humanity's progress is being somewhat 'stunted' by allowing only 5% of the smart to "see the truth" while the rest of the "plebs" - who have the power to vote on important things like government policies (some regarding scientific advances) are "hoodwinked" by supposed ancient "myths"? "

It's a trade off and it's close. Especially for the next highest ten percent.

sexdrugsmoney · #10 10-11-2005, 05:00 AM

<blockquote>En respuesta a:<hr />
"Don't you believe humanity's progress is being somewhat 'stunted' by allowing only 5% of the smart to "see the truth" while the rest of the "plebs" - who have the power to vote on important things like government policies (some regarding scientific advances) are "hoodwinked" by supposed ancient "myths"? "

It's a trade off and it's close. Especially for the next highest ten percent.

[/ QUOTE ]

Do you believe this top 15% should be only allowed the vote?